LUMENTIFY
More than ten hours – in two phases
After full charging, the bright untinted pigments in natural green, blue-green and blue glow for more than ten hours in total darkness. The afterglow is not uniform:
- Glow phase: immediately after the light is switched off, the glow is brightest and then gradually decreases.
- Shimmer phase: after one to two hours, the glow turns into a faint shimmer that remains visible for many hours – clearly enough for orientation in the dark.
The pigment is not "used up" afterwards: it recharges with the next exposure to light.
Afterglow duration by glow colour
| Glow colour | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Natural green | more than 10 h | brightest and longest |
| Blue-green | more than 10 h | bright, more balanced look |
| Blue, untinted | more than 10 h | slightly weaker than natural green and blue-green |
| Violet | approx. 3 h | needs UV light to charge |
| White | only briefly | rather weak, but a very white daylight colour |
| other tinted shades | – | glow less than the untinted pigments |
What afterglow duration depends on
Charging
The more fully the pigment is charged, the longer it glows. UV content charges fastest – daylight or UV light from 365 nm. Artificial light also charges, but takes longer. Permanent UV does not harm the pigment.
Loading and carrier material
Too little pigment or an opaque, dark carrier shortens the visible afterglow. The guide value is 15–20 % pigment relative to the carrier – more in our article on dosage.
Particle size
Coarser pigments glow brighter and therefore remain visible longer. Our coarsest pigment grade of 150 µm glows best but is too coarse for many applications – see choosing the particle size.
Surroundings
Afterglow is only clearly visible in real darkness. Even the light of a street lamp largely outshines the effect – especially outdoors.
ImportantPhotoluminescent materials are for orientation and marking. They are not a light source and do not replace lighting.
How do glow pigments age?
Strontium aluminate is inorganic and very durable. The pigments show very little ageing. The SiO₂ coating makes the pigment hydrolysis-resistant – it tolerates moisture and even permanent contact with water.
Why we do not publish luminance curves
How brightly a product glows after a given time depends on pigment, particle size, loading, carrier, layer thickness and charging. A general curve would promise more than it can deliver. Only a measurement in your own system is reliable – which is why we provide samples.
Photos also reproduce the glow only to a limited extent: depending on camera and charge level, brightness and colour look different. It is best to judge the glow on a sample.